The City Council of Council Bluffs voted on a series of resolutions covering public‑works plans, bond awards, land development and procurement procedures.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25‑209: Approved plan/specifications for sanitary sewer reconstruction (2600 Block Alley between West Broadway and Avenue A, Public Works Project 25‑26). Motion and voice vote carried; no written protests were received.

- Resolution 25‑210: Approved plans for a pump‑station emergency generator (Public Works Project 25‑15). Motion and voice vote carried; no written protests were received.

- Resolution 25‑211A: Receipt of bids and directing sale of general obligation bonds, Series 2025A. Council amended the resolution in session to reflect award language and approved directing sale to Robert W. Baird (staff materials and motions referenced a $5,640,000 par amount in amended language). Motion carried by voice vote after staff verification.

- Resolution 25‑211B: Receipt of bids and directing sale of general obligation bonds, Series 2025B. Council approved directing sale to Piper Sandler & Co. (staff materials referenced $2,210,000). Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑212: Final plat approval for East Manawa Subdivision (100‑lot residential subdivision). Motion carried by voice vote; no written protests were received.

- Resolution 25‑213: Approved and authorized execution of a development agreement between the City and OER LLC. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑214: Certified the fiscal year 2025 water, sewer, and refuse lien schedule for nonpayment to the county treasurer. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑215: Authorized suspension of civil‑service procedures for hiring a utility worker position (procedural waiver to accelerate hiring). Motion carried by voice vote; council members discussed turnover and the city’s difficulty maintaining an extended eligibility list for the classification.

- Resolution 25‑216: Authorized execution of a contract for the Trolley Park playground improvements (Project 26‑06) with Docile Construction Inc.; the transcript records an amount that appears inconsistent with typical project costs and should be verified with city staff and the contract document. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑217: Adopted a Planned Residential Development (PRD) plan for a multifamily development (Block 12, Bryant and Clark Subdivision and adjoining vacated alley). Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑180: Motion to reconsider the council’s prior approval of Sedgwick Homes as selected builder for East Manawa Phase 1 housing project; the council voted to deny the reconsideration motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑218: Rejected all submissions for the East Manawa Phase 1 housing project request for proposals. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 25‑219: Approved minimum development requirements, competitive criteria and procedures for disposal of certain city‑owned property along East Manawa Drive and solicited proposals; council amended the RFQ/RFP language to the 08/25/25 version. A proposed amendment to add a contractor employee background‑screening requirement (language modeled on an employment‑screening service) was moved but failed for lack of a second.

- Liquor license applications (items 1 through 10): Approved by voice vote.

How the votes were taken

Most motions were reached by voice vote with council members answering “aye” when called; the meeting record indicates motions carried and that proof of publication was on file for public hearings. The transcript does not provide an explicit roll‑call tally for the voice votes; staff confirmed no written protests were received on the public‑hearing items described above.

Key discussion highlights

- On the hiring waiver (25‑215) staff explained the waiver speeds hiring for a class that frequently exhausts the civil‑service eligibility list; council members expressed concern about preserving civil‑service protections even as staff seeks quicker fills for open utility worker roles.

- On the East Manawa procurement and RFQ (25‑219) council members debated and ultimately rejected a last‑minute amendment to require a contractor‑paid employee background‑screening service; the amendment failed for lack of a second. Council clarified that the RFP process will use IonWave (the city’s online platform) for questions and addenda to ensure parity among proposers.

Ending

Council actions approved projects, authorized bond sales and refined the East Manawa solicitation language. Several agenda items requested follow‑up verification (contract amount for the Trolley Park playground improvement and final bond closing figures) and staff indicated they would supply final documentation following the meeting.